Meters Could Boost Revenues

February 6, 1985|By Rebecca Theim, Staff Writer

LANTANA — The town could reap an additional $300,000 in annual gross revenues by reinstalling parking meters along several roads and parking areas near the town`s beach, according to a study prepared by Town Administrator Bob Cameron.

The town would incur a one-time cost of $75,472 to purchase the meters and their stands, the study indicates. However, that figure does not include the cost of labor needed to install the meters, maintenance costs, or the expense of hiring a person to collect the meters` cash.

In the report, Cameron states the town originally installed meters at beach parking areas several years ago. However, vandalism and the ocean`s salt air destroyed the meters` mechanisms, and they were subsequently removed.

Cameron notes in the study that reinstallation of the meters now could be successful because newer meters are salt-resistant and almost tamper-proof.

Cameron`s estimates are based on installing 350 meters at four areas near the town`s 800-foot public beach: 180 meters at the town`s current beach parking lot; 20 meters in the town library`s parking lot, located on the north side of East Ocean Avenue, just west of the town`s Intracoastal Bridge; 65 meters along Ocean Avenue; and 85 meters at Sportsman Park, a boat launching area located on the south side of East Ocean Avenue, at the west end of the Intracoastal Bridge.

Parking would cost 25 cents per half-hour, and the meters probably would accept only quarters, according to the study.

Mayor Henry Johnson said the meters would provide the town benefits beyond the additional revenue.

``A lot of the hassles with beach parking would be eliminated,`` Johnson said. ``It`s a user`s fee, but the town has got to start having more of these types of fees to maintain its services and facilities.``

Johnson said the meter system would attract more beach customers than the town`s current flat-rate fee.

Non-residents pay $2 on weekdays and $3 on weekends for beach parking privileges, while residents pay $5 a year for a beach parking permit. Johnson said Lantana loses a substantial amount of beach business to Lake Worth, which has meters at its beach.

``Someone may want to go to the beach to eat lunch, or just to walk along the beach for a couple of hours,`` Johnson said. ``That person is more likely to go up to Lake Worth and use its meters, rather than coming to Lantana and paying the all-day rate.``

Johnson said the meters would also force non-residents to help bear the cost of facilities that are now soley paid for by residents` tax dollars.

``It`s not fair for residents to have to pay for what other people come in and use for free,`` he said.

Councilman Jim Seeley originally brought up the parking meter proposal during a September meeting.

``It looks like it could become a reality,`` Seeley said. ``It would provide a good source of income, rather than trying to go to other tax means.``